Is software privacy rampant in China? Oh yes it is.
Is software privacy rampant in North America and Europe? Oh yes it is.

Is software selling well in China? Oh no.
Is software selling well in North America/Europe. Oh yes it is.

That's the only difference. And yes, regulations and intellectual property rights is no where as strict as it is here in developed countries. So do yourself a favor and stop comparing yourselves to a new industrializing nation and stop being hack for the corporations.

idk if any posted this (think its in the right section too bare with me i dont post news often) lol

Quote:

"BEIJING (AP) -- At first, it looks like a sleek Apple store. Sales assistants in blue T-shirts with the company's logo chat to customers. Signs advertising the iPad 2 hang from the white walls. Outside, the famous logo sits next to the words "Apple Store."

And that's the clue it's fake.

China, long known for producing counterfeit consumer gadgets, software and brand name clothing, has reached a new piracy milestone -- fake Apple stores."

While these are among the most copied designs, Apple stores are all over any of the major cities I've seen in China. Practically every major shopping centre/mall has one or two of these, "fake stores" where the logo is proudly shown off and they do actually sell genuine merchandise, sometimes imported from Hong Kong.

I think the most interesting thing to consider is the Chinese response to these stores or even the Chinese idea of what, "fake" actually is.

Unlike in the West, the Chinese don't see, "fake" as a disgusting, evil and appalling idea. They generally see these things as bad but only in a way that we'd probably see cheap chocolates or cheap shoes compared to luxury Belgian chocolates or Converse shoes. They don't see it as, "a fake iPhone", they see it as, "a cheaper iPhone alternative".

Just as I would prefer to buy the extra virgin olive oil or the genuine Champagne, sometimes budget or how much I feel I want/need it would have me buy the ordinary olive/peanut oil or the sparkling wine. The people in China aren't so stupid as to believe that the imitation iPhones are the real thing but they buy them knowing that they may break sooner, won't have all the features or aren't made of the same materials (or all of those things at the same time) because they get them cheaper.

While these are among the most copied designs, Apple stores are all over any of the major cities I've seen in China. Practically every major shopping centre/mall has one or two of these, "fake stores" where the logo is proudly shown off and they do actually sell genuine merchandise, sometimes imported from Hong Kong.

I think the most interesting thing to consider is the Chinese response to these stores or even the Chinese idea of what, "fake" actually is.

Unlike in the West, the Chinese don't see, "fake" as a disgusting, evil and appalling idea. They generally see these things as bad but only in a way that we'd probably see cheap chocolates or cheap shoes compared to luxury Belgian chocolates or Converse shoes. They don't see it as, "a fake iPhone", they see it as, "a cheaper iPhone alternative".

Just as I would prefer to buy the extra virgin olive oil or the genuine Champagne, sometimes budget or how much I feel I want/need it would have me buy the ordinary olive/peanut oil or the sparkling wine. The people in China aren't so stupid as to believe that the imitation iPhones are the real thing but they buy them knowing that they may break sooner, won't have all the features or aren't made of the same materials (or all of those things at the same time) because they get them cheaper.

Is that a bad way to be?

Just some food for thought, I'd love to get some feedback.

An alternative is one thing but a replica with intent to completely imitate is different. This is especially true when the replica is sold as the original and the consumer loses out when it breaks and there isn't warranty (or parts) or pays a lot on pretense. Etc etc... i don't really care what the company loses when the company is as big and bad as apple/ms/etc. : )Edited by BlackVenom - 7/21/11 at 9:28am